Body dysmorphia, also known as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others, but the person with BDD may be so upset about them that it gets in the way of their ability to live normally. People with BDD have a persistent, intense focus, shame, and anxiety over perceived body defects, often resulting in many cosmetic procedures. Key features of BDD include:

• Obsessive focus: People with BDD cant stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in their appearance, even if the flaw appears minor or cant be seen by others.

• Repetitive behaviors: People with BDD may repeatedly check the mirror, groom themselves, or seek reassurance, sometimes for many hours each day.

• Impact on daily life: The perceived flaw and the repetitive behaviors cause significant distress and impact the persons ability to function in their daily life.

BDD can seriously affect a persons daily life, including their work, social life, and relationships. It can also lead to depression, self-harm, and even thoughts of suicide. The cause of BDD is thought to be a combination of environmental, psychological, and biological factors. Risk factors for BDD include having blood relatives with BDD or obsessive-compulsive disorder, negative life experiences such as childhood teasing, neglect, or abuse, certain personality traits such as perfectionism, societal pressure or expectations of beauty, and having another mental health condition such as anxiety or depression.

Treatment for BDD typically involves a combination of medication and therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) . If you or someone you know is struggling with BDD, its important to seek help from a mental health professional.